Control apparatus



Dec. 13, 1927., 1,652,550

A. A; YEAGER, JR

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12. 1925 Patented Dec. 13, 1. 127.

STATES ATENT QFFECE.

Bill-'1 A. YAEG-EB, 315%., OF SAGIDFAVT, IEIGLELEGAN, ASSIGNOR TO "WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- 't MANUFACTURIIEG CGIVEIEANY,

A CQEPORATION QFEENNSYLVANIA.

CGI'J'TI'LOL APPARATUS.

Application filed February My invention relates to improvements in relays and more particularly to time-element relays employed for control purposes.

@ne object of my invention is the provision of a relay that shall be simple and etlicient in operation and readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for the retardation of the action of a elay in a manner that is not affected by changes in temperature and pressure.

A further object of my invention is to effect a retardation of the operation of a. relay at any predetermined period in its operation.

It is also an object of provide for the balancing of the operating parts of a relay to permit the mounting of the relay in different positions without affecting the efiiciency of operation.

'Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accom panying drawing and comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the forth and the my invention to scope of the application of which will be indicated in theclaims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a relay constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the relay showing the armature after it has been actuated through the energization of the coil; and

3 a viewv in end elevation of the relay.

Referring; now to the drawing, the illustrated relay is provided with afraine or base 10. A bracket 11, having one end secured to the base 10, is provided for carry ing an adjustable contact member or screw 12.

An armature 13, including a contact member 14L, is pivotally disposed between a pair, of standards 15, forming a part of the frame 10. 111 this particular construction, the contact member 1 of the armature 13 is mounted to normally make contact with the memconstruction hereinafter set 153, 1925. Serial No. 8,355.

ber 12, and is retained in that position means of a tension spring 16, which is connected between an adjustable screw 17 that is mounted in the armature l3 and an arm lSthat is attached to the standards 15.

In order to effect the operation of the armature 13, an actuating coil 19 and a. suitable core 19 are positioned on the frame on the opposite side of the standards 15 from the spring 16 and are alined with the front end of the armature 13. As will be readily understood, the coil 19 may be energized from any suitable source of current. If desired, the operation of the armature 13 may be utilized to interrupt the supply circuit to permit the return of the operating parts of the relay to their normal positions.

In using a. relay of this type for control purposes, it often becomes necessary to retard the operation of the armature. In order to effect a retardation of the movements of the armature 13 in a manner that is not subject to changes in atmospheric conditions, the device to be described hereinafter is provided.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a vane 20 is connected to an extension 21 of the armature 18 in any suitable manner, such as by the use of screws 22. In order to permit the mounting of the relay in any desired position, the vane 20 is made of some metal, such as aluminum, having a low specific gravity, so that, when the relay is shifted from one position to another, the balance of the parts will not be greatly ai'fected and the efficiency of operation will not be decreased.

In order to retard movements of the vane 20, an electromagnet 23 is mounted on the frame 10 below the vane 20, and is provided with suitable pole pieces 2& that are located on opposite sides of the vane. As shown in Fig. 1, the pole pieces 2 1 are spaced apart sutiiciently to permit the vane 20 to move between them. Thus, the electroinaa'net 23 is provided to develop a suitably directed magnetic field and the vaneQO is disposed to move in the magnetic field.

It will be readily understood that the elec tromagnet 23 be energized from any suitable source of current supply and that the energization may be controlled in any suitable manner, to develop a magnetic field at any time or for any predetermined period of time.

As shown, the side core members of the clectromagnct 23 are of the laminated type so that the energization oi? the core is not affected by eddy currents. As shown, the pole pieces 24L are attached. to the outer ends of the core members 25 by means of screws 2.

Under normal conditions, when the coil 19 is deenergized, the contact member 14-, constituting a part of the armature 13, is retained in contact with the member 12 by means of the spring 16. When the coil 19 is energized, the armatureis rotated. counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, about its pivot point, thereby breaking the contact between the members 12 and i l and overcoming the normal bias of the spring 16.

Assuming that the contact members 12 and 1a are connected in the energizing circuit of the coil 19, then the rotation of the armature counter-clockwise breaks the contact between the members 12 and and the energizing circuitis opener, thus permitting the spring 16 to function to return the armature to its original position and to n llil close the circuit of the coil. 19. lloivei er, it is to be understood that the circuit for energizing the coil 19 may be controlled by any means independent of the relay.

In order to retard the movement of the armature 13 under the influence of spring 16, the coil 23 is energized to build up a magnetic field between the pol pieces i when the armature reaches the limit of its coimter-cloelrwise movement. Then, as the armature rotates clockwin, the vane 20 moves through a magnetic field which retares or damps its movement. In this manner, the re-establishment of the energizii'ig circuit of the coil 19 may be delayed, as desired.

Furthermormthe counter-clockwise rotation of the armature may be retarded by energizing the coil 23 at the same time as the energization 01" the coil 19 is eil ected. Thus, as the armature 13 is rotated cormter-cloclc wise, the vane 20 is moved through a magnetic field, thereby retarding the n'ioven'ient of the armature.

It will be readily understood that the coil 23 may be energized at any predetermined time to ei'iect the desired retardation oi the movements of the armature 1?). Furthermore, by varying the strength of the mag netic field bet-ween the pole pieces 2 1 or the. tension of the spring 16, the speed of operation of the armature 13 may be changed at will. The tension of the spring 16 may be adjustei'l by means of the set screw 17.

Since various changes may be made in the ahove-described construction and arrangement of parts, and differentembodiments ot the invention may be made wthout depart ing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawin .1,cae,550

shall be interpreted as illusl rative and not in. a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention 1. A relay comprising, in combination, an armature, a coil tor actuating the armature, means for developing a magnetic field, and means disposed for movement transversely of the lines of force of the magnetic field cooperative to retard the movements of: the armature in either direction.

2. A relay comprising, in comigiination, an armature, a coil for actuating the armature, means for developing a. magnetic field, and means carried by the armature and disposed for movement in the magnetic field co-operative to retard the movement of the armature, the timing of said retarding action being dependent upon the development of: the magnetic field.

8. A relay comprising, in combination, an immature, a coil for actuating the armature, and electromagnet having a pair of pole pieces disposed in spaced relation, said electromagnet being ad apted. to permit energizetion at any )redetcr1nined time, and means disposed 'l'or movement between the pole pieces co-operative to retard the movement-i of the armature when said electromagnet is energized.

i. A relay con'iprising, in combination, an armature, resilient means for holding the armature in a predetermined position, a coil for a tuating the armature, an clectromagnet for developing a magnetic field, and a vane carried by said aru'iature and disposed for movement in said magnetic field to rot-1rd the movements of the armature.

5. A relay comprising, in combination, an arimiture, resilient means for holding the armature in a predetermined position, a coil ttor actuating the armature, an electromagnet for developing a magnetic held, and a vane carried by said armature and disposed for movement in said magnetic field to retard the movements 01 the miniature, said vane being made from a metal having a low specific gravity, thereby to provide for substantially the same balance of the operating parts in all positions of the relay.

(3. A relay comprising, in combination, a frame, an armature pivotally moiii'ited on the frame, resilient means 't'oi' retaining the armatin'e in predetermined point-ion. a coil tor actuating the arn'niture, an clectromagnct adapted to be encrg 1nd at will, said o|eciiomagnet being provided with i aminutctl core and pole pieces disposed idjaceut: one another, and a vane carried by the a rn'iai-urc dispoecd for movement between said pole pieces, thereby to provide for the retarding o the movements of the armature.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of Jan. 1925.

ansnnr JR. 

